When I visit the Bethany Lowe showroom, I think HALLOWEEN! Yes, Bethany represents home decor and all holiday ... but her Halloween line is always over the top!

Above, the LARGE COUNTRY PUMPKIN GENT is a new entry from Scott Smith's Rucus Studio. When they named it "large", they weren't kidding! This guy makes a real statement at 24" tall, He's resin with a bamboo stick and a great paper pulp lantern carried over his shoulder. He does have a "big" price, too. Well,he does come in a little under $200.

Speaking of pricing ... think about the the state of our economy. Oil is at $100 a barrel, all transportation costs have increased accordingly, not to mention the cost of oil-based materials. Now, add to the mix the current dollar devaluation in the world marketplace. Do you begin to get a picture of what I'm about to tell you?

Expect prices this year to increase anywhere from 15% to 40%. The European ornament manufacturers seem to be especially hard hit. Some have dropped ornaments from their lines because they have become so expensive. In the Radko line, they have a fabulous line of Italians for 2008. The prices I checked in the showroom ranged from $65 - $125 per ornament. The new pieces in the German Master Craftsman Collection ranged from $100 to $250, for those I checked. But they were awesome! I loved Chung King Lights in 2007. This year's collection has "Chung King" ... based upon each segment of the original design ... and turned into smaller ornaments.

I have an appointment at the Radko showroom tomorrow as well as Joy to the World. By the way, they have a penguin Schaller that is just incredible! As I'm sure many of you have suspected the Schaller with a "surprise" is a minature glass ornament version of the paper mache German figure.

Well, I took about 150 images today ... tomorrow will certainly break that record!

Let me know what you would like to "see" from the showrooms. I'll do my best to make your wishes come true!

Connie